Right after book three.This takes place right where JP left us. The flock has just left Dr.Martinez's and Ella's, and are in the air.

Max POV

We had been flying over parts of Arizona for about half an hour when my little Angel asked me , Um Max?

Yes ,honey?

Um ...where are are we going now?

Well, we ...

Actually I hadn't been thinking about that at all . I had just been enjoying the fact that my flock was safe and we were together forever, as long as I could help it.That, and the fact that the wind felt great on my wings and the cool air in my face was so exhilerating. And that Fang was back and I felt whole once more.

Itex had been destroyed, my real parents found, and my belly was stuffed full of my Mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies. God, sometimes I really loved my life.

"Hey guys, where do you want to go now?"

"Ooh,ohh! Max you're letting us decide?! I really want to go SHOPPING! Our clothes are starting to look really ratty Max, and oh! Just look at my hair! This is getting just down right embarrassing and-"

Iggy planted a hand over Nudge's mouth to spare our ears.

I shot him a greatful glance, but realizing it would be lost on a blind person, I added quietly

" thanks,Ig. "

"Well Nudge, you're right but it's getting dark out, and I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to settle down somewhere."

I met Fang's gaze and he smiled and me. I momentarily forgot to flap and had to pump my wings harder than usual to keep from falling. Fang's eyes sparkled with amusement and I blushed furiously. Since when did he have such an affect on me? God. Gotta keep it together, Max.

"Yeah Max, that sounds good. Lets find a place, rest up, then figure out where we're going from here." Iggy said noticing the slow, tired rhythm our wing beats were making and hearing the Gasman yawn. It was contagious and then the whole flock started yawning and flying slower.

"Ok, Guys just stay with me here. I'm gonna find us a place and then we'll-"

Fang nudged me and pointed at a nearby hotel right on the Arizona/California border. I nodded silently and I told the flock where we were going and angled my wings toward the hotel. I hadn't heard anything from Total in a while and glaced over at Fang's arms suspiciously. Earlier he had been complaining about the wind being cold while he was in that baby carrier, so Fang agreed to hold him with some reluctance. He was out cold and had started snoring quietly.

We landed just as the sun was sinking in the sky.

Fang and I walked up to the front desk while the others crashed in the lobby chairs.

"We need a room please." I told the lady at the reception desk.

She glanced warily between me and Fang, raised an eyebrow, and was about to say something but Fang cut her off.

"We need four bedrooms."

And even I would hesitate in arguing with him when he looked like that. She seemed to think that it would be in her best interest not to protest. She went strictly to 'buisiness' mode and plastered on an expressionless face. I tried to hold back my smile but just couldn't. It was aggravating when he did that with me, but with anyone else it was down-right funny. She put something into the computer and frowned as she said, "Sir, I'm sorry but we only have a three room siute open tonight."

Fang's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to reply,but I put my hand on his arm to stop him. He relaxed as I said "That's fine, thanks." I handed her our handy-dandy credit card and she gave us each a key and told us our room number.

Fang, Iggy, and I had to carry the three younger kids since they were already asleep. I scooped up my baby and Fand got Nudge, as Iggy grabbed Gazzy. Total had long since been hidden in my backpack so we could in the hotel without causing any trouble.

I opened the door to our room and took Angel to one of the bedrooms. Fang followed after me with Nudge. We laid them on the bed and tucked them in. I started to lean down to kiss my sleeping Angel's forehead when something very cold and wet pressed up against my neck. I supressed a shriek while slinging off my backpack onto the bed.

There was a little glistening black nose protruding from my bag. I un zipped it and shot Total a stern glance. He just smiled at me sheepishly and bounded over to lick my face. EW. Fang choked back a laugh and I tucked Total in between Angel and Nudge.

In Iggy and Gazzy's room they were already in thier pajamas and asleep. I tucked them in and left to what was supposed to be the room I would share with Fang. Oh boy.

He was in the kitchen getting some water so I was the first one in. There in front of me was one queen bed. Not two twins...uh...

I ignored this minor detail for now and took off my windbreaker and let my wings out a little. Ahhhh...much better.

Just as I was unzipping my backpack Fang walked in. I glanced up from what I was doing to look at him, and would have looked back at what I was doing, but Fang's intense expression stopped me. He wasn't smiling but he seemed happy and there was a silent determination there. It took me so off guard that I dropped the pack and could only stare stupidly at him as he walked right up to me trapping my eyes in his gaze.

The next thing I knew Fang's hands were on my waist and then he leaned in to kiss me. And oh boy, what the heck was I supposed to do?! And where was the Fang I grew up with, and who was this guy that replaced him?? But all I could do was concentrate on Fang's firm lips on mine and soon I found that I could kiss back. My hands entwined in his hair and we kissed for what seemed like years. At last we pulled away and Fang's shocked(but very pleased) expression made me smile. Maybe we could do this without it being awkward. I gently pushed Fang down onto the bed and he got this very anxious look on his face. But to his disappointment, (insert smile here) I got off the bed and grabbed our pajamas out of my pack. I tossed Fang's at him and couldn't help but noticed that he seemed to be having trouble breathing smoothly. I smiled and went to the bathroom, my change of clothes under one arm.